2008 Year Of Discovery•Otabil

REV. DR. Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) has described 2008 as the “Year of Discovery” and urged Christians to work hard towards that goal.

He disagreed with remarks going round that 2008 is an election year, stressing that even though the elections would be held in 2008, it would not occupy the 12 month calendar of activities for the country.

“2008 is not an election year because you are not going to spend all your time electing somebody. You would use that time discovering your destiny,” he said at one of the largest gatherings of Christians from all walks of life at his famous “Crossover 2007” watch night service held at the Independence Square in Accra on Monday December 31, 2007.

The watch night service, which was hitherto held at the Christ Temple, the headquarters of ICGC at Abossey Okai in Accra, was shifted to the Independence Square to give members of other religious sects the opportunity to be part of it.

No wonder the Independence Square was besieged by a large group of congregants, most of them clad in white apparel, who danced to music provided by Pastor Joshua Laryea, Okasah Lamptey, Rev. Maurice Appiah, the Karisma and the New Edition.

According to Pastor Otabil, Ghana had gone through a long and tortuous journey in 2007 but by the grace of God, the nation had been able to come this far.

He prayed for God's presence and protection in whatever Christians did so that they would not be swayed from God's way by temptation.

Pastor Otabil prophesized that year 2008 would be a year of God's promotion in the lives of His faithful servants.

He told the congregation that by working hard and digging the ground to discover their worth, their efforts would be rewarded.

Pastor Otabil therefore reminded Ghanaians to be mindful of the difficult task ahead of them in 2008 and work hard to make Ghana a better place to live in.

At Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, His Grace, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle led the congregation to pray and thank the good Lord for the many blessings received.

Concelebrating with Very Rev. Fr. John Louis, Cathedral Administrator and Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Gosu, Associate Cathedral Administrator, in a solemn Mass, the Archbishop urged Christians not to forget what they went through in year 2007 and pray for God's continuous protection and guidance.

At exactly 12 midnight, the Cathedral bell started tolling and a few seconds after midnight, signifying 2008, the congregants went 'wild' with jubilation, singing “Afe Ako Apro”, and wishing one another “Happy New Year”.

There were similar gatherings in Churches throughout the country.
At the Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Madina, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Coln Nilan led the faithful to pray for abundant grace.

The occasion was also to afford the Parish Pastoral Council the opportunity to present their annual report to the church.By Wisdom Peter Awuku